Over the summer, I worked at Our Home K-Care in an assisted living facility and Alzheimer's-Dementia Unit. Over those few months, I was intimately introduced to Alzheimer's. Although it was emotionally challenging at times, getting to know residents with this affliction turned out to be an enlightening experience. In order to completely understand this disease and to properly relate to the residents, I first had to gather some background information on what exactly Alzheimer's was.
Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder caused, for an unknown reason, by damage or loss of brain cells called neurons. In a healthy brain, neurons fire signals by the way of chemicals called neurotransmitters; the firing of neurotransmitters allows us to think, feel and control our memory. The deterioration of neurons drastically reduces the firing of neurotransmitters, disabling one's ability to think and remember. This leads to short-term memory loss, personality changes, wandering, insomnia and anxiety, among many other symptoms. According to Dr. Mark Sagar of the Alzheimer's Institute in Madison, the region of the brain called the hippocampus most affected. This part of the brain controls learning and memory, which explains why patients with Alzheimer's disease have a hard time retaining short-term memories.
As there is no cure for Alzheimer's, lifestyle changes must be made to help those suffering from the disease.
\A patient affected with Alzheimer's must be kept in a structured living situation,"" said Dr. Mark Reuter, a family practitioner.
Patients need simple repetition in their daily lives because they cannot remember the finer nuances of the day. Remembering when meals are or when to use the bathroom can be difficult, so these activities are kept at similar times every day.
""The same tasks must be done at the same time every day, like eating and sleeping,"" said Tim Koeing, administrator of Our Home. ""We incorporate several activities such as preparing fish every Friday and a meal like fried chicken or ham every Sunday. This reminds the residents what day it is, and also allows them to reminisce on the past, as that is typical to how they lived.""
Living with Alzheimer's is not only difficult on those directly suffering from it, but also on family and friends. Those with Alzheimer's may keep very strange hours, such as sleeping during the day and staying awake at night; have awkward behaviors such as mood changes or irrational anxieties; and fail to recognize immediate family members, such as a spouse or child. These symptoms can be extremely painful to deal with and very disheartening for family members.
Making the decision to place a family member into assisted living or a nursing home is as difficult as living with the stricken.
Although Alzheimer's disease can be debilitating, I found that spending time with those affected was worthwhile.
Because the long-term memory is not affected while the short-term memory is diminishing, often residents are able to enjoy the same things that they filled their time with years ago. One resident in particular comes to mind.
A man who had recently joined the assisted living facility had a history of multiple strokes and speech that was completely incoherent. Yet, when he was given a golf club and ball, he could swing the club like Tiger Woods. This man had been an avid golfer before his health started to fail, and since Alzheimer's disease does not affect long-term memory, he could easily pick up a golf club and play as well as he did prior to his strokes.
Growing old, as my grandma once told me, sometimes ""is the pits."" There is, however, hope for Alzheimer's. Advancements in medicine and technology are constantly being made. But when they aren't available, all we can do to cope with this disease is to spread awareness to those at risk. Alzheimer's touches close to home for many of us, and while we cannot cure it, hopefully we can understand it enough to provide support for those who need it.
